I first noticed these Oregon Tiger Beetles (Cicindela oregona oregona) in 2006, always flitting away just as I focussed my eyes on them. After some tracking, I got one barely acceptable photo. In April and May, 2007, I returned to the site, near the mouth of the Elwha River in northwest Washington State, and spent some time photographing them and catching a couple of specimens. They are especially abundant on sunny afternoons in May, moving about, mating and laying eggs (See Oregon Tiger Beetle 2 - Mating) on sandy patches near the river (environment 1 | environment 2).

I have since observed and photographed this species in several other sandy locales, the upper end of Lake Mills, along the Elwha river, on the Dungeness River at Railroad Bridge Park, at Salt Creek park, near the mouth of the creek, and at Bogachiel State Park, on the upper sand of Second Beach near LaPush and on Sooes Beach, on the Makah Reservation, along with the Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle. (See ONH: Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle), and Marlyn Nelson County Park in Sequim (a salt-water beach).

Oregon Tiger Beetles are abundant and widespread throughout the Pacific Northwest. The species extends from the central plains of United States and Canada to the west coast.

Tiger Beetles can jump, run and fly, so they’re difficult to approach. (One scientist claims that an Australian species is the fastest running insect. See Fastest Runner). Their sharp vision, speed and formidable jaws (movie of a beetle eating 1.5 MB) likely make them serious predators on any insects small enough for them to catch. A studio profile shows the length of the jaws relative to the body. The images to the right show the Tiger Beetle’s long legs and high stance.

Field marks for this species include a prominent “knee” on the middle stripe and bristles on the inner edge of each eye (field marks labeled | close up showing bristles). In the specimens I’ve photographed and observed, the middle stripe varies, sometimes being broken into two pieces (studio photo). In some individuals, the middle stripes on the two elytra differ (cropped image showing stripes). In different light, and because of individual variation, they can appear coppery, gold, brown, green or green with blue highlights. They’re about 1.5 cm long (photo with scale).

The field photos were taken with a Nikon Coolpix S10. (We also use a Nikon D50 with a telephoto zoom lens to get “emergency” images from about five feet.) The microscope photos were taken with a Nikon Coolpix 995 on an old Nikon dissecting microscope.